No One is Above the Law

By
The Wilder Firm
|September 30, 2016

The Laredo police department in Texas is sending a message to everyone
in that jurisdiction that no one is above the law. Unfortunately, the
message was needed because one of their own was recently arrested and
put in jail under suspicion of DWI. A 12-year veteran of that police squad
is charged with DWI, leaving the scene, and causing damage to a parked vehicle.

According to reports, the
off-duty police officer ran into a parked jeep with his black mustang. Then he left the scene on foot, only to return
later and be arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. As you would imagine,
the people of Laredo are upset over this turn of events, but it is important
to remember that police too are citizens and should benefit from the protections
of the U.S. Constitution and other laws.

Just because the person involved in this case is a police officer, does
not mean that anyone should be rushing to judgment. Each of us is innocent
until proven guilty. When it comes to DWI, it can be easy to pass judgment
before the actual facts and circumstances of the case are heard by an
impartial arbiter, but that is exactly what each case demands.

DWI With Property Damage

Another issue raised by this case is that of property damage associated
with DWI. The crime of DWI in Texas is typically treated as a misdemeanor
for first time offenders. When there is damaged property as a result of
the DWI, there are additional criminal penalties that a person will face
above and beyond that of DWI.

Under
Chapter 28.04 of the Texas Penal Code, the reckless damage or destruction of property is an additional Class
C misdemeanor. While it does not carry additional jail time, it does come
with other penalties, including:

$500 fine above that which is associated with a DWI; and

Requirement to pay for the fair market value of the destroyed or damaged property.

As you can see, an already complicated charge of DWI can soon become even
more complicated and expensive depending on whether property was damaged.

The Right to a Defense

Everyone accused of a crime is entitled to a defense by an attorney. All
of the laws, court rulings, understandings, and other processes involved
in DWI require that the right kind of attorney handle it. Like every other
area of the law, DWI defense has its own intricacies and points that only
those with experience truly understand.

At The Wilder DWI Defense Firm, we dedicate our practice to defending those
accused of DWI. We have all the experience and expertise your case requires,
including taking every kind of DWI case to trial. If you are facing DWI
charges in the Dallas area,
contact us today and we will give you a free case evaluation.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.